Albert clay myers



July 25, 1933. Q MYERS 7 1,919,640

TILE FABRICATING MACHINERY Filed March 16 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ALBERT CLAY MYERS.

ATTORNEX July 25, 1933. A. c. MYERS TILE FABRICATING MACHINERY Filed March 16, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR:

ALBERT CLAY MYER ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1933.

FIG.

A c. MYERS 1,919,640

TILE FABRICATING MACHINERY Filed March 16,- 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 //5/ i g i a INVENTOR'.

ALBERT CLAY MYERS ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1933. I A. c; M Yl IRS 1,919,640

m m A m FIG. 7'

Z 9 u-nmm v 7 a ALBERT CLAY MYERS" FIG. 6

mam/ V ATTORNEY July 25, 1933. c, MYERS 1,919,640

TILE FABRICATI'NG MACHINERY Filed March 16, 1931 I e Sheets-Sheet 5 N I. Q

' INVENTOR: ALBERT CLAY MYERS,

ATTORNEY.

July 25, I' Q MYERS 1,919,640

TILE FABRICATING MACHINERY Filed March 16, 1951 e Sheets-Sheet 6 O T OT-X3 FIG II w H 4 U VENTOR:

ALBERT CLAY MYERS.

AT TORNEY- ALBERT e-L MYERS, or mass, ennrronnra, ASSIGNOR To KRAFTILE 00., or nines,

Patented July 25, 1933 W EN r JoFFics GALIFORIQ'IA,v CORPORATION DELAW'ARE TILE FABBICA'IING MACHINERY Application filed. March 16, 1931. Serial No. 522,255.

This invention relates to improvements in tile fabricatingmachinery and the method of producing and dressing building tile,

For further particulars seemy copending -application Serial Number 464,839, iiled J une30, 1930, entitled Tile machinery.

Among the objects of the invention is-to produce a structural tile unit uniform in three dimensionsand suitable as an integer in the construction of building walls.

Another object is to reduce the cost of production by minimizing the loss from breakage, prior to the more expensivefiring operation.

A further object is to provide dressing and gaging machinery capable of reducing unfired tile to a standard of accuracy in three dimensions of thickness, height and width, with the mlnnnum oi. .breakage.

Otherobjects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

The'form of tile illustrated in Fig. 8, to

which the present disclosure is particularly adapted, combines hollow tile wall construction with faience tile finish. It is obvious,

however, that flat and other forms of tile may be similarly dressedby changes in the form of the machine without departing from the spirit of this invention. I I

Tile fabricated inaccordance .with this invention is true to size and shape, will lay perfectly with one-sixteenth inch joint and when pointed up, compares favorably with the finest tile setting. The saving in labor cost and time is obvious. The cost is far less than that of erecting a wall or partition finished with even. the cheapest glazed wall tile. It is .less than that of finishing an exterior wall, lobby or vestibule with ar-' In this specification and the accompany ing drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form because it may be embodied in other forms. It

is also to be understood that in andby the L claims following the description it is desired to cover. the invention in whatsoever it may beembodied. V

In thesix sheets ofd-rawings: F ig.- 1 is a plan view from above of the. forward portion of a tile dressing machine constructed in accordance with this invention. I

Fig. 2-is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the terminal portion of the machine, to be read as a continuationofFig, 1. v r Figs. 1,. 2, 3, 4 are viewed from the rear ofthe machine facing the operator. Fig. dis a side elevation ofthe same to beread as a continuation of Fig. 2. J Fig. 5 is a side elevation of vtheturntable carriage for progressively presenting. the tile to the successive dressing units.

form

,"Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View from above of the upper pivotal clamp of the carriage. V r

Fig. 7 is asimilar viewof the lower turntable pivot, belowthe horizontal sectional line VII- VII, Fig. 5. g

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one form of building tile suitable for fabrication in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail in side elevation of the facing for the dressing brushes. vFig. 10 is a perspectiveview of the'same. Fig. 11 is a side elevationof a modified form of carriage suitable for dressing the sides of the tile in a subsequent operation.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the same.

prises: The mainframe consisting of the side sills 1-1, the pillars 2-2, 33, and

l4, supportingthe laterally spaced, parallelsidel rails 5' 5. The main frame is preferably composed of structural steel shapes properly cross braced to form a supporting structure for the operating parts.

lee

The brackets 6-6 at intervals, are fixed to the rails 5-5 and support the tracks 77 and the guard rails 88 above, and the guide rails 99 below, on opposite sides of the main frame. These latter rails 99 are bent into the semi-circular curves 10--l0 and 1111 at the opposite ends of the machine with their interspaced dimension maintained.

The overhead cam rails 12-12 are arranged above and in spaced relation to the traction rails 7-7. The opposite ends 13-14 of these cams are curved downwardly and laterally at 15-16 and are fixed to the end bolsters 17-l8 of the main frame respectively. The inner ends of the cam are fixed to the supports 3-4.

The sprocket wheels 19, 20 are mounted upon their respective shafts 21, 22, journaled'in suitable bearings fixed to the supports 22 at opposite ends of the main frame. The endless sprocket chain 23, encircles the sprockets 1920and travels intermediate the traction rails 7-7 and tracks Referring to Fig. 5, the tile carriage comprises a suitable chassis 24 having journals for the transverse axles 25.26, with the traction wheels 2727. These wheels have grooved treads to fit the beveled tops of the traction rails 77. The wheels 27-27 also have the extended hubs 23, of reduced diameter to travel freely between the vertically alined guide rails 9-9, to suspend the carriage in its return travel and around the bends 10-l0 at opposite ends of the main frame. These guide rails 9-9 are offset laterally to the traction rails 77 to clear the sides of the wheels 27.

The turntable 29, on top of the chassis 24, overhangs the rails 77 and 3-8. This turntable has the central hub 30 count-erbored to receive the annular antifriction bearing 31. This bearing rests within a recess formed in the chassis 24. The turntable is held in assembly by the screw 32 threaded into the hub 30, with its head bearing under the chassis.

The gear 34 is cut in the periphery of the hub 30. The teeth of the gear extend laterally at 34 beyond the edge of the chassis bed into the path of the rack 36 fixed to the inner side of the adjacent rail 3. This rack is properly located and of a length to time the rotation of the turntable 90 after passing the first dressing operation, see Fig. 7.

A rack similar to 36 may be provided to restore the turntable to normal position after the carriage passes the second dressing operation.

The bushing 33 is fixed. in the bed of the chassis and extends into the quadrant slot 33' and serves as a stop to limit the rotary movement of the turntable 29. 'The pin 35 passes through the interior of the bushing 33 and is pressed upward by the encircling compression spring 35. The holes 3535 are drilled at each end of the slot 33. The end of the pin 35 is adapted to frictionally engage these holes 35 to prevent rebound of the turntable as the gear 34 disengagesfrom the rack 36.

The carriage is provided with a spring tile clamp, see Fig. 5. This clamp comprises the overhanging arm 40 bolted to the chassis 24 and overhanging the pivotal center of the turntable. This arm is recessed to guide the stem 41 and encloses the spring 42. The swivel head 43 is attached to the end of the stem by the shouldered screw 44. The antifriction bearing 45 is interposed between the swivel head and the end of the stem. The spring 42 expands between the cap 46 of the recess and the swivel head. to force the latter down against the tile X. The swivel head can be provided with the rubber facing 47 to prevent injury to or slipping of the tile X.

The upper end of the stem 41, see Fig. 5,

is provided with the laterally projecting stud 48, upon which the roller 49 is mounted. This roller engages the top of the cam rail 12 at the offset 15 and rides up the inclined cam 50, which lifts the clamp 40 for a period sufficient to permit the insertion of the title X upon the turntable 29, before the roller 49 descends from the cam at 51. When the roller leaves the cam 50, the full expansion of the spring 42 is exterted against the title X to hold it in position on the turntable 29.

To aid in centering the title X on the turntable, the bell crank gage 52 is pivoted at 53 on the arm 40. The counter weight 54 throws the gauge up into the inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, when the gage is released by the operator placing the tile. It is necessary to remove the gage beyond the corner of the tile while the turntable is revolving.

The-carriage is pulled forward by the drag link 37, see Fig. 5, pivoted at 38 to the journal bearing 39. The lower end of the drag link 37 is properly pivoted to the sprocket chain 23 of the conveyor.

This sprocket chain is driven by the sprocket 19 on the shaft 21, see Fig. 3. This shaft is driven by the train of reduction gears and pinions 55, 56, 57, 58, the pulley 60 and the belt 61, from any prime mover, not shown.

The tile dressing brush consists of a surface composed of carding strips, see Figs. 9, 10. These strips 62, of heavy fabric, form a base through which the stiff Wire bristles 63 protrude. These strips are out into tapered segments and fixed to the face of a flat disc. The bristles 63 are thus applied to the tile across the length of the strips,

not lengthwise as in carding cotton. The

effect Is to scratch off the excess width of f the tile, which is dissipated in the formof dust. This scratching operation is not'tobe confused with grinding tile after it is fired.

the clamp 47 which is elevated by the cam' The scratching operation can be .performed with little or no breakage, whereas. grinding is a more costly operation in itself and. is accompanied by a prohibitive degree of breakage of the more valuable fired tile.

The dressing units consist of-the disc .64.- fixed upon the end of an adjustable shaft 65,. mounted in suitable bearings 66.'66; These bearings are fixed to the base 67 slidable in the guide 68, fixed to a bracket on the support 4, see Figs. 1-2. A screw spindle is swiveled in the guide 68 and threaded through a lug on the base67. This spindle is manually operated by the hand wheel 69 on the spindle to advance or retract the base 67. A similar unit 64a is mounted in opposed relation on the opposite support 4 so that the opposed discs 6464a operate simultaneously on opposite sides of the tile Xb passing therebetween.

The discs 64, 64a, 64b, 640 are driven by the pulleys 7272 mounted on the shafts 66. The belts 73 encircle the pulleys 7 2 and are driven from a suitable prime mover (not shown.)

This invention operates substantially as follows: Referring to Figs. 2, 5, the operator lifts the weight 54 which swings the centering gage 52 into position. He then places the tile X upon the turntable 29, beneath 50. The lifting action of this cam 50, lifts the hubs 2828 up against the rails 88, opening the clamp. When the roller 49 passes off the end of the cam at 51 the clamp descends upon the tile Xa, with all the tension of the spring 42. The tile securely clamped to the carriage is passed between the scratch brush discs 64-64a, see X7), Fig.

2. This dressing removes the surplus and reduces the height of the tile, see Fig. 8, to

the adjusted distance between the discs 64 64a, see Fig. 1. v

The carriage moves forward until the gear 35 engages the rack 36 which swings the turntable 29, ninety degrees, to present the tile crosswise between the scratch brush discs 6%, 640, which remove the surplus from the ends XX" of the tile.

The continued progress of the carriage, see Fig. 3, 4, releases the clamp when the roller 49 rides up the cam 50a, permitting the tile to be removed by the operator. The carriage then descends between the curves 10-10 to repeat the operation continuously.

The tile thus dressed to two exact dimensions, the height and width are transferred to a similar machine, except that the turntable is not requiredv on the carriage. The carriage is modified as shown in Fig. 11. The longitudinal upright plate is fixed in the center of the table 71. Two tiles Xe,

X7 are-placed upright on the table 71 and clamped by the clamp'4700, similar to the clamping mechanism described in the previous carriage. The carriage then passes between two disc scratch brushes similar to 64l64a which'remove the surplus from one of the sides X3, of each of the tiles Xe, After this dressing the clamp is released by a suitably placed cam like 50. The o1- erator then reverses the tiles Xe, Xf, on the table 71 to present the opposite sides of each tile. The carriage then passes between another opposed pair of disc scratch brushes which are set to remove the surplus to reduce the pair of tile to the standard thickness This completes the operation of dressing the'three dimensions of the tile'to a fixed standard. I

After the dressing of the tile is completed it may be glazed and otherwise treated and fired in the usual manner. I

Having thus described this invention what I claim and des'ireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tile machine including a conveyor; a tile carrier on said conveyor; and a scratching element located laterally to said carrier.

2. A tile machine including a conveyor;

a tile carrier on said conveyor; means for turning the tile on said carrier; and tile dressing means arranged in the path of said tile,

3. A tile machine tile carrier on said conveyor; a turntable and a clamp on said carrier; means for antomatically operating said clamp and turntable and dressing means arranged in the path of said tile.

4. A tile machine including a conveyor; a tile carrier on said conveyor; a turntable and a clamp on said carrier; clamp operating means in the path of said clamps; turntable operating means in the path of said carrier; and tile dressing means arranged laterally to said carrier.

5. A tile machine including a conveyor; a tile carrier. on said conveyor; a tile clamp on said carrier; a turntable pivoted on said carrier; means for operating said turntable and said clamp at predetermined points respectively, in-the travel vof said carrier.

6. A tile machine including a conveyor; a tile carrier on said conveyor; a tile clamp on said carrier; a gear driven turntable pivoted on said carrier; a rack and a cam fixed in the paths of said gear and clamp respectively; and rotary scratch brushes arranged in the path of said tile- 7 tile machine including a continuous conveyor; upper and lower spaced tracks; a carrier having wheels operating between said tracks; a cam above said tracks; a tile clamp on'said carrier cooperating with said clamp; and scratch brushes arranged in the path of said tile.

including a conveyor; a

Lil

rier adapted to move in a fixed path, a driven scratchlng element lccated 1n uxtaposition to one of the surfaces of the tile on'said carrier and consisting of conventional carding brushes adapted to reduce the dimensions of said tile; and means for actuating said carrier and scratching element.

ALBERT CLAY MYERS.

T ig 

